* JapaneseStockPhrases: Though the game was developed in English, dialogue occasionally feels like it's been translated from Japanese, especially when they speak English but talk about English as if they aren't really speaking it. This adds to the authentic feel.-->'''Hisao:''' I'm in your care again then, I guess.** While the text does contain some JapaneseStockPhrases, the developers actually go out of their way to avoid "anime-isms," as mentioned in [[http://katawashoujo.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-in-life.html this blog post]] (the word in question being "perverted"). The above quote probably made its way in because there's no satisfactory English equivalent, but the writers are obviously trying to make the game accessible to as many people as possible (as opposed to just {{Otaku}} who would be familiar with Japanese phrases).

** With rare exceptions, the characters tend to address each other by their given name alone, whereas normally in Japan one would address someone by their surname plus an [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics honorific]] (unless they're ''very'' well-acquainted). The writers worked around this with the girls asking for more informality, but it's still odd if you are used to stories set in Japan. This is probably a TranslationConvention resulting from the development team's effort to avoid "anime-isms". Similarly, characters address their older siblings by first name, rather than JapaneseSiblingTerminology or any equivalent.

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** With rare exceptions, the characters tend to address each other by their given name alone, whereas normally in Japan one would address someone by their surname plus an [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics honorific]] (unless they're ''very'' well-acquainted). The writers worked around this with the girls asking for more informality, but it's still odd if you are used to stories set in Japan. This is probably a TranslationConvention resulting from the development team's effort to avoid "anime-isms". Similarly, characters address their older siblings by first name, rather than JapaneseSiblingTerminology UsefulNotes/JapaneseSiblingTerminology or any equivalent.

The characters also make an appearance in the fanmade Flash game ''VideoGame/KatawaCrash'', an irreverent, ShoutOut-filled remake of ''VideoGame/NanacaCrash'' made while the VN was in the late stages of development. There is also ''Katawa Shoujo Lite'', a ''{{Franchise/Castlevania}}'' parody starring Kenji made by [[http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7291 this fan]], with the rest of the cast (minus Hisao) serving as the enemies. And [[https://archive.org/details/DonkeyKenj "Donkey Kenj"]], a free Unity-based game for Windows/Mac/Linux based on Katawa Shoujo and DonkeyKong.

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The characters also make an appearance in the fanmade Flash game ''VideoGame/KatawaCrash'', an irreverent, ShoutOut-filled remake of ''VideoGame/NanacaCrash'' made while the VN was in the late stages of development. There is also ''Katawa Shoujo Lite'', a ''{{Franchise/Castlevania}}'' parody starring Kenji made by [[http://ks.renai.us/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7291 this fan]], with the rest of the cast (minus Hisao) serving as the enemies. And [[https://archive.org/details/DonkeyKenj "Donkey Kenj"]], a free Unity-based game for Windows/Mac/Linux based on Katawa Shoujo and DonkeyKong.''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''.

Despite the premise, the entire subject is handled very tastefully and the characters manage to break free not only from any stereotypes associated with their disabilities, but also from many of the typical DatingSim cliches, resulting in a surprisingly well-written (and often emotional) tale. "Katawa" [片輪] is actually a Japanese word meaning "imperfect" or literally, "one wheel" (not a polite word to use, it has about the same connotations as "crippled." See IntentionallyAwkwardTitle below). The concept is based entirely on a [[http://shimmie.katawa-shoujo.com/image/1.jpg single-page]] [[BonusMaterial omake]] by doujinshi artist RAITA (aka the character designer for VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles). The page showed several girls with disabilities: blindness (Lilly), major burn scars and accompanying mental/emotional trauma (Hanako), deafness and muteness (Shizune), legs amputated below the knee (Emi) and missing arms (Rin). Website/FourChan instantly took to the concept and began developing the game in earnest, taking care to present the disabilities in a realistic and respectful way. The game takes place at the fictional Yamaku High School for disabled children, and all the main characters have some sort of disability, including [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_QT_syndrome Long QT Syndrome]] (the hero, Hisao).

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Despite the premise, the entire subject is handled very tastefully and the characters manage to break free not only from any stereotypes associated with their disabilities, but also from many of the typical DatingSim cliches, resulting in a surprisingly well-written (and often emotional) tale. "Katawa" [片輪] is actually a Japanese word meaning "imperfect" or literally, "one wheel" (not a polite word to use, it has about the same connotations as "crippled." See IntentionallyAwkwardTitle below). The concept is based entirely on a [[http://shimmie.katawa-shoujo.com/image/1.jpg single-page]] [[BonusMaterial omake]] by doujinshi {{doujinshi}} artist RAITA (aka the character designer for VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles).''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles''). The page showed several girls with disabilities: blindness (Lilly), major burn scars and accompanying mental/emotional trauma (Hanako), deafness and muteness (Shizune), legs amputated below the knee (Emi) and missing arms (Rin). Website/FourChan instantly took to the concept and began developing the game in earnest, taking care to present the disabilities in a realistic and respectful way. The game takes place at the fictional Yamaku High School for disabled children, and all the main characters have some sort of disability, including [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_QT_syndrome Long QT Syndrome]] (the hero, Hisao).

* PaintingTheMedium: Character portraits normally hang out near the middle of the screen and vanish when they exit a scene. ShrinkingViolet Hanako, however, spends her early appearances standing right near the edge of the screen and then physically slinking off-screen. One scene even opens with her portrait exiting stage-right while the screen is still fading in.

** In the alpha of the game, particularly on Hanako's route, it's heavily implied that [[spoiler:Emi]] fooled around with [[spoiler:Misha]] and maybe [[spoiler:Rin]]. There are hints of this in the final release: [[spoiler:Misha]] tells you how cute you and [[spoiler:Emi]] look together and reacts suspiciously to the art room in Act 1, [[spoiler:Emi]] implies she and [[spoiler:Rin]] used to sleep in the same bed, and later on [[spoiler:if the player makes the wrong choice at Meiko's house, Misha acts very concerned and advises you to apologize, even though from the player's perspective, she hasn't interacted much with Emi.]]

** Ironically enough the only somewhat tricky route is Shizunes, since it requires you to get a certain amount of flags, and then make the right choice. Look at this chart for proof (May contain spoilers, enter at own accord) (Link Removed as it lead directly to a virus pop up)

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** Ironically enough the only somewhat tricky route is Shizunes, Shizune's, since it requires you to get a certain amount of flags, and then make the right choice. Look at this chart for proof (May contain spoilers, enter at own accord) (Link Removed as it lead directly to a virus pop up)choice.

* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: The eventual release of the full version caused the website to crash. 4LS seem to have realized this ahead of time, as the server error page contained a link to grab the torrent files directly without relying on the stressed HTML servers.** When seeing Shizune's room for the first time in her route, Hisao will comment on Shizune barging into his room back in Act 1. The line of dialog will actually change depending on whether you saw that scene or not, since it's possible to end up on Shizune's path either way.** Likewise a line in Rin's route changes depending on if you went to the Shanghai with the Student Council in Act 1.

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